UK Landlord Forum / Life

Recently I let out a flat to single male tenant and I was told by my agent that he had good references. The flat is comfortable with brand new oven and hob, recently installed modern electric radiators and new carpet. In the first few days there were a number of queries from tenant i.e. how to turn hot water immersion heater on (there's a switch marked "hot water on"), how to get hot water in shower (pull cord in bathroom), there's a problem with connection to washing machine (plumber sent, nothing wrong), can't fit large car in garage so parks across the front of 3 garages instead. After 2 weeks agent advises me there is a mould problem and that the tenant has already reported problem to council. Agent then inspects flat and agrees to end lease, refund all their fees and tells me I need to refund all the rent and he will move out otherwise he will sue me. I now find that he is a newly separated father with a very young baby (under 6 months) and has been washing nappies and hanging them all over the flat. He had no clothes dryer let alone a condenser dryer. I am disappointed in both tenant and agent but want rid of both. Tenant moved out and I moved in about a month ago.
The issue now is that my flat is on the council's radar and they want to inspect. Do they have any right to do so given that I will never let the flat out again?

The council has a duty of care to investigate the complaint.  Besides how could they know you are no longer planning to rent it out.

Regardless they will need to a HHSRS Housing Health and Safety Rating System inspection.
You could (a) call them and see if they will cancel (very unlikely) (b) let them inspect - seems it won't be an issue now?

You might change your mind and want to rent it out later and it would be better to have the record corrected ?

If they find any hazards that need addressing they will tell your Landlord (sic) what they need to do... what happens next would be interesting. Heck, you could even be fined if you don't make any improvements they demand of you. Of course... their requirements will be sensible anyway... you'd not want to be living in a property with any known hazards, obviously. What I love most about the process is that they can take enforcement action against a Private Landlord, but not a Council one.